Gopichand: ‘This is the true World Cup…happy with staff’

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Gopichand: ‘This is the true World Cup…happy with staff’

THE MOST heartening facet of India’s Thomas Cup staff right this moment was watching Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy beat Mohammad Ahsan-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo. All the earlier instances that our boys have confronted Kevin Sanjaya, they’ve misplaced 11-0. It was as people. Today, they’d Team India backing their efforts, planning and rooting for them. It makes a distinction, and this was a primary the place India performed as a unit. Earlier, if Saina was taking part in, Sindhu would not be there. And if Sindhu performed, Saina wasn’t round. If the doubles staff performed, the singles gamers weren’t actually invested. This was actually Team India’s victory and I used to be so comfortable that Satwik-Chirag gave it again to the Indonesians.

In my thoughts, I knew this was doable once you do the calculations. But whether or not it’s going to really be doable relies on particular person gamers, and right this moment they pulled it off completely, which was fantastic to observe. When we converse of Indian staff sport on the highest stage, that is the true World Cup that India has gained in a sport unfold globally and with fancied powerhouses. I’m happy with being a badminton participant right this moment. This was coming for years, however issues fell into place now. I would even imagine within the magic of our gamers.

Indonesia, Malaysia, China and Denmark will likely be in shock tonight, questioning how India gained. This will likely be reported for years. In Malaysia, they nonetheless recall tales of how they gained a title in 1991 with the Sidek brothers, and so they earned Datukhoods (just like knighthoods) and acres of land. Legends had been born. Mind you, the Indonesian and Malaysian groups, the second they misplaced, are going to be questioning ‘Can I am going again residence?’. You’ll hear ‘change the coach, change the affiliation’ calls within the aftermath. That’s how a lot the Thomas Cup means to these badminton-crazy nations. Coaches concern for his or her jobs, and gamers get shredded. If you had instructed half the fellows in my affiliation the day earlier than that India is profitable the Thomas Cup, even they would not imagine it. But the gamers did.

In my time, we have misplaced 1-5 to Sri Lanka and 2-5 to Pakistan even. For us to qualify for the 16-team elite occasion was mighty, and after we beat Korea and Japan to qualify for that Thomas Cup and Uber Cup (for girls) in 1999 Delhi, we thought that is nice. Both Prakash (Padukone) sir and I used to play each singles and doubles, we did not even have doubles specialists then. We could be given two Yonex T-shirts and we might be on our technique to these occasions. So you possibly can perceive the place we began and the enormity of this.

India’s depth has been excellent. And if there have been 5 extra singles, India would have nonetheless gained. You should not preserve fretting in regards to the massive gold medal not coming within the Olympics, as a substitute preserve pushing in staff occasions. Badminton Association of India, Sports Authority of India and the Government helped us in plans to push 10 gamers in Top 25 to construct extra depth. We did not construct this depth within the ladies’s staff. The ladies gamers would play their very own matches and never look after the remainder of the staff. Saina and Sindhu did not take the staff alongside, we should always have constructed that tradition within the Uber Cup. That’s the distinction between bronze and gold.

This win comes from HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth not taking their locations with no consideration, additionally Srikanth and Lakshya Sen combating for that one spot. But credit score to the boys, they competed whereas serving to one another. That’s an enormous beneficiant high quality. They’ve every had debacles — misplaced at Olympics, not certified for Olympics, not been centrestage, misplaced massive matches. That fireplace to show a degree has baked them a little bit extra, which confirmed of their grit.

Opponents have begun to learn Lakshya, and make life troublesome for him. He was struggling on the corners, however he stood there and fought like a gladiator. That’s character. Srikanth put unbelievable strain on Jonatan Christie. It was the identical in doubles. Our guys had been combating to be heroes; they had been avoiding being labeled as “villains” of their nations.

It’s been powerful for India’s male gamers with unfair comparisons with Saina and Sindhu. The Indian ladies raised the bar a lot {that a} Super 500 win for the boys barely registers now — entering into the Top 10, semis, quarters won’t ever be massive headlines. If they’d misplaced the ultimate right this moment, all the joy would have subsided. Lakshya made the All-England finals, however solely profitable it’s going to put him on the identical pedestal as Sindhu or Saina. So it has been powerful.

There are gamers who get the possibility and pounce on it, like Saina, Sindhu, Jwala (Gutta), and there are these that aren’t courageous sufficient to profit from the chance. Prannoy, Satwik Chirag, Srikanth, Lajshya proved they’re courageous sufficient to take that probability. Winning a last is being courageous.

I’ll have a good time this win with my household tonight, however the true social gathering will likely be on the academy tomorrow. But I’m going to get up, and surprise ‘What subsequent?’ These boys displaying they will win the largest title means I’ve to begin interested by the following troublesome goal.

I keep in mind, Satwik’s mom had come to me when he was younger, she spoke of how she all the time dreamed of taking part in singles. Convincing the likes of Satwik, Dhruv, Krishna and even Gayatri that you may be a good participant in singles however an amazing one in doubles took effort. This title is validation that massive issues can occur in doubles. If these males do not litter their minds with ideas of cash or depend medals or turning into celebrities on social media, keep within the second, play sensible and aggressive, then nice issues will occur. It’s not a dream India dream actively, however now the nation will reside the dream with these wonderful gamers.

(The author is a Sydney Games Olympian, All England champion and nationwide badminton head coach. He spoke to Shivani Naik)

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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS

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